Bearing block assembly for calender rollers, systems and methods thereof

Abstract

A bearing block assembly for supporting a calender roll having a housing including a preload access port, a base surface, and a first side and a second side. A first contact surface on the first side extends from the base surface at a first angle, and a second contact surface on the second side extends from the base surface at a second angle. Within the housing is a first bearing block having a first bearing block surface and a first bearing bore, a second bearing block having a second bearing block surface and a second bearing bore, and a third bearing block having a preload surface and a third bearing bore. The first bearing block surface is disposed over the first contact surface, the second bearing block surface is disposed over the second contact surface, and the preload surface is positioned between the preload access port and the base surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bearing block assembly for supporting a calender roll, comprising:
 a housing comprising a preload access port, a base surface, and a first side and a second side separated by a midplane perpendicular to the base surface, wherein a first contact surface extends from the base surface at a first angle and is located in the first side, and a second contact surface extends from the base surface at a second angle and is located in the second side;   a first bearing block disposed within the housing and comprising a first bearing block surface and a first bearing bore, wherein the first bearing block surface is disposed over the first contact surface;   a second bearing block disposed within the housing and comprising a second bearing block surface and a second bearing bore, wherein the second bearing block surface is disposed over the second contact surface; and   a third bearing block disposed within the housing and comprising a preload surface and a third bearing bore, wherein the preload surface is positioned between the preload access port and the base surface.   
     
     
         2 . The bearing block assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises the first contact surface and the second contact surface. 
     
     
         3 . The bearing block assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first contact surface is disposed on a first support block and the second contact surface is disposed on a second support block, and the first and second support blocks are positioned within the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The bearing block assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first angle and the second angle are congruent angles. 
     
     
         5 . The bearing block assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a preload force applicator. 
     
     
         6 . The bearing block assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the preload force applicator contacts the preload surface. 
     
     
         7 . The bearing block assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a fourth bearing block disposed within the housing, the fourth bearing block comprising a fourth bearing bore. 
     
     
         8 . The bearing block assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first bearing block and second bearing block are disposed between the third bearing block and fourth bearing block. 
     
     
         9 . The bearing block assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of bearings. 
     
     
         10 . The bearing block assembly of  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of bearings is a roller bearing. 
     
     
         11 . The bearing block assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of bearings comprises a first pair of bearings disposed in the first bearing bore, a second pair of bearings disposed in the second bearing bore, a third pair of bearings disposed in the third bearing bore, and a fourth pair of bearings disposed in the fourth bearing bore. 
     
     
         12 . A system for supporting a calender roll, the system comprising:
 the bearing block assembly of  claim 1 ; and   a calender roll comprising a first journal disposed within the first, second and third bearing bores.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising an additional bearing block assembly comprising an additional bearing bore, wherein the calender roll further comprises a second journal disposed within the additional bearing bore. 
     
     
         14 . A method of supporting a calender roll, comprising:
 applying a preload force to a first surface, thereby causing:
 the preload force to be transmitted to a first bearing disposed against a journal of a calender roll; 
 a first reaction force to be applied to a second bearing disposed against the journal; and 
 a second reaction force to be applied to a third bearing disposed against a journal in a third direction, 
 wherein the preload force is in a first direction, the first reaction force is in a second direction, and the second reaction force is in a third direction, and wherein each of the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are different directions. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising reducing a vibration in the calender roll. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the preload force is at least about 100 kN. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first direction is in the same direction as a gravitational force. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first reaction force comprises a vertical component and a horizontal component. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second reaction force comprises a vertical component and a horizontal component. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising reducing play in the first bearing, the second bearing, and the third bearing.